Human species 'may split in two'

Human species 'may split in two'
Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 08:47 GMT

Humanity may split into two sub-species in 100,000 years' time as was predicted by HG Wells, an expert has said.

Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass to emerge.

The human race would peak in the year 3000, he said - before a decline due to dependence on technology.

People would become choosier about their sexual partners, causing humanity to divide into sub-species, he added.

The descendants of the genetic upper class would be tall, slim, healthy, attractive, intelligent, and creative and a far cry from the "underclass" humans who would have evolved into dim-witted, ugly, squat goblin-like creatures.

Race 'ironed out'

But in the nearer future, humans will evolve in 1,000 years into giants between 6ft and 7ft tall, he predicts, while life-spans will have extended to 120 years, Dr Curry claims.

Physical appearance, driven by indicators of health, youth and fertility, will improve, he says, while men will exhibit symmetrical facial features, look athletic, and have squarer jaws, deeper voices and bigger penises.

Women, on the other hand, will develop lighter, smooth, hairless skin, large clear eyes, pert breasts, glossy hair, and even features, he adds. Racial differences will be ironed out by interbreeding, producing a uniform race of coffee-coloured people.

However, Dr Curry warns, in 10,000 years time humans may have paid a genetic price for relying on technology.

Spoiled by gadgets designed to meet their every need, they could come to resemble domesticated animals.

Receding chins

Social skills, such as communicating and interacting with others, could be lost, along with emotions such as love, sympathy, trust and respect. People would become less able to care for others, or perform in teams.

Physically, they would start to appear more juvenile. Chins would recede, as a result of having to chew less on processed food.

There could also be health problems caused by reliance on medicine, resulting in weak immune systems. Preventing deaths would also help to preserve the genetic defects that cause cancer.

Further into the future, sexual selection - being choosy about one's partner - was likely to create more and more genetic inequality, said Dr Curry.

..continued

The logical outcome would be two sub-species, "gracile" and "robust" humans similar to the Eloi and Morlocks foretold by HG Wells in his 1895 novel The Time Machine.

"While science and technology have the potential to create an ideal habitat for humanity over the next millennium, there is a possibility of a monumental genetic hangover over the subsequent millennia due to an over-reliance on technology reducing our natural capacity to resist disease, or our evolved ability to get along with each other, said Dr Curry.

He carried out the report for men's satellite TV channel Bravo.

Although somewhat speculative, i really don't find many of these predictions 'overly' speculative, after reading them over a few times. eg. Over the last 5 centuries or so, human's have become increasingly taller.Even more so, over the last 10-20 years, especially in women.
I also agree, as well..'that technology will also hit its own breaking point; how that will end up effecting future generations and millenia; of course only real time will tell. Now the processed foods and receding chins, that is 'really' scary stuff, along with the split species theory..LOL! So keep eating those fresh natural foods, guys! 😉

I have to agree, the split theory is just too mind-boggling actually; regressive to the extreme, and inhumane. If nothing else, the one thing we can't lose of ourselves, is our own humanity for one another. The last thing our world needs is more sub-classes and divisions. Terraforming and higher/smarter space exploration makes much more sense to me, as well.

"Preventing deaths would also help to preserve the genetic defects that cause cancer."

I'm hoping by then, cures for cancer & other diseases will proceed human preservation. I think in the end, we will all have to strike that magic balance between humanity (health) and technology.

I watched Gattica, interesting concept...*however, makes me think of the morality of super hybrid gene selection. Even if humans look perfect on the outside; what about the inside? Will or can mother nature gradually intercede upon us, anyway? Even if humans change, i'd like to think that the cosmos never do, and their historical effect upon us will be ever effective and influential..

If this happened it's like the lesser race would have to leave Earth and visit other planets in flying saucers, haha... Honestly though, evolution/mutation would fix some of them and break others. I see people become spiritually unshallow before any of that happens, though. An interesting concept though, it reminds me of something similar.

"The Ragged Trousered Philosopher" has some interesting viewpoints on the future and evolution. Right now there's this growing belief that your children don't need to be biologically born to their parents in order to be loved. Adoption, pets, general sentimentality towards inanimate objects, and a growing belief in evolution are proving this. They say that once we completely lose this desire to carry on our genes, and focus more on our influence and ideas being passed on, we can take the next step in technological evolution.

The human genome has been mapped, now we just need to figure out what each part does. It's possible that humans will be able to evolve by using science to create better bodies/children/hosts for the next generation of 'humankind'. This bio-tech science is but a stepping stone towards the inevitable God-machine. Once we are all biological technology, we can be linked into one mind and pool of human experience stored in one machine, the God-machine. A creation with everlasting power, life, and the capability to store all mankind's experience by simply being able to backwards engineer cause-and-effect.

If a machine/computer was ever powerful enough to backwards engineer cause-and-effect, every single entity that ever existed would be remembered whether or not history was recorded. All the experiences of your loved ones would be remembered/calculated to the beginning of the universe. All truth revealed, including HOW to start the universe anew. The God-machine is in essence, God, and it would be able to start a new universe with no intention other than to create other Gods. All the more reason to be a virtuous human being, even in your private space.

I am all for eradification of all diseases and malformities in the distant future. However, 'perfect' human beings are only as good as what's actually happening on the inside. If we don't evolve spiritually and emotionally at the same time, then the 'spoils' become rather hollow and meaningless. A true meaningful evolution is a balanced evolution..

btw, 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' ..i've heard of it, but didn't know the plot was that interesting, just may have to read it afterall..lol! 🙂

"No matter how genetically perfect you are, there is no gene for fate."
-movie Gattica
'Now you're getting into God's territory'..! 😉